What’s a World Cruise?

In 1873, the fictional adventurer Phineas Fogg managed to go "Around the World in 80 Days” by ship, train, elephant, and even wind-powered sled. Today, he could simply book a world cruise. Of course, world cruises usually last 90 to 120 days, so Fogg might not have made his deadline; but, the cruise would have allowed him to relax, unwind and enjoy a more leisurely look at exotic cultures without worry about making his next connection.

A variety of cruise lines offer world cruises. Cunard Line offers grand and elegant world cruises; Crystal Cruises provides another luxury option. For a luxury small-ship experience, check out the world cruises from Silversea and Seabourn. In addition, Princess Cruises, Holland America and Costa Cruises offer world cruises on comfortable midsize ships.

With lengthy itineraries, world cruises tend to offer a mix of major ports and those outside the usual cruise routes. For example, Cunard’s 2014 world cruise on the Queen Elizabeth calls on ports like Pago Pago, American Samoa; Australia’s Whitsunday Islands; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; and Colombo, Sri Lanka.

If you’re considering a world cruise, think about:

The number of days at sea. Because world cruises move between continents, they tend to include many days at sea. Some guests like having this time to enjoy the ship; others can become anxious to get to the next port.

What to pack. Sailing the world for three or four months requires clothes for a variety of weather conditions and special activities. Your Cruise Holidays expert can tell you how many formal, semiformal and casual nights are planned, as well as what type of weather to prepare for.

Sailing with the same people for an extended period. A world cruise provides time to form lasting friendships with fellow cruisers; but, some shipmates are bound to get on your nerves. If you need to get away, explain that you have a book you long to finish or that you simply need some quiet time.

If you’re not able to take all the vacation time that a full world cruise requires, you can book a segment. For example, a 24-day segment of Princess Cruises’ world voyage from Sydney stops in Malaysia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, India and the United Arab Emirates.